What does חָסֵר mean in the Bible?
חָסֵר is a Hebrew word meaning "to lack ; by implication, to fail , want , lessen".
Hebrew · H2637
חָסֵר
To lack ; by implication, to fail , want , lessen
Reading a lexicon entry
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חָסֵרH2637
What does חָסֵר mean in the Bible?
חָסֵר is a Hebrew word meaning "to lack ; by implication, to fail , want , lessen".
Full entry for חָסֵר (H2637) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2637?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include lack (2), run dry (2), - (1), [so that] they lacked (1), and bereave (1).
Where does חָסֵר appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 8:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (3), Genesis (3), Psalms (3), 1 Kings (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itlack2×Genesis 18:28, Psalms 34:10
run dry2×1 Kings 17:14, 1 Kings 17:16
-1×Deuteronomy 15:8
[so that] they lacked1×Nehemiah 9:21
and bereave1×Ecclesiastes 4:8
and he lacks1×Proverbs 31:11
and you have lacked1×Deuteronomy 2:7
be lacking1×Isaiah 51:14
had gone down1×Genesis 8:3
is empty1×Proverbs 13:25
lacks1×Song Of Solomon 7:2
of1×Isaiah 32:6
shortfall1×Exodus 16:18
spare1×Ecclesiastes 9:8
they will lack1×Ezekiel 4:17
to recede1×Genesis 8:5
want1×Psalms 23:1
we have lacked1×Jeremiah 44:18
where you will lack1×Deuteronomy 8:9
You made him a little lower1×Psalms 8:5
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 8:3וַיַּחְסְר֣וּtohad gone downConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralGenesis 8:5וְחָס֔וֹרtoto recedeConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteGenesis 18:28יַחְסְר֞וּןtolackVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nunExodus 16:18הֶחְסִ֑ירtoshortfallVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 2:7חָסַ֖רְתָּtoand you have lackedVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 8:9תֶחְסַ֥רtowhere you will lackVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 15:8יֶחְסַ֖רto-Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Kings 17:14תֶחְסָ֑רtorun dryVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular1 Kings 17:16חָסֵ֑רtorun dryVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularNehemiah 9:21חָסֵ֑רוּto[so that] they lackedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 8:3
Aligned rows22
Books represented12
Genesis3Exodus1Deuteronomy31 Kings2Nehemiah1Psalms3Proverbs2Ecclesiastes2Song Of Solomon1Isaiah2Jeremiah1Ezekiel1
Source forms
יֶחְסַ֖ר3xyeḥ·sarDeuteronomy 15:8, Song Of Solomon 7:2, Isaiah 51:14
יֶחְסָֽר׃2xyeḥ·sārProverbs 31:11, Ecclesiastes 9:8
אֶחְסָֽר׃1x’eḥ·sārPsalms 23:1
הֶחְסִ֑יר1xheḥ·sîrExodus 16:18
וְחָס֔וֹר1xwə·ḥā·sō·wrGenesis 8:5
וַיַּחְסְר֣וּ1xway·yaḥ·sə·rūGenesis 8:3
וּמְחַסֵּ֤ר1xū·mə·ḥas·sêrEcclesiastes 4:8
וַתְּחַסְּרֵ֣הוּ1xwat·tə·ḥas·sə·rê·hūPsalms 8:5
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular5xDeuteronomy 15:8, Proverbs 31:11, Ecclesiastes 9:8, Song Of Solomon 7:2
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular2x1 Kings 17:14, Proverbs 13:25
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xPsalms 34:10, Ezekiel 4:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular1xPsalms 8:5
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1xEcclesiastes 4:8
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xGenesis 8:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute1xGenesis 8:5
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1xIsaiah 32:6
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to lack ; by implication, to fail , want , lessen
Source Gloss
to lack ; by implication, to fail , want , lessen
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to lack; by implication, to fail, want, lessen BDB: lack Usage: be abated, bereave, decrease, (cause to) fail, (have) lack, make lower, want.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms16
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense14×
ImperfectDeut 15:8 · Isa 51:14 · Prov 31:11 · 1Kgs 17:14 · Prov 13:25 · Ezek 4:17 · Ps 34:11 · Deut 8:9 · Ps 23:19×
PerfectDeut 2:7 · Jer 44:18 · Neh 9:213×
JussiveEccl 9:8 · Song 7:32×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action2×
PerfectExod 16:181×
ImperfectIsa 32:61×
Word Origins
חָסֵר is a primitive root - no further derivation.